Surface bumper



N0V- 27, 1962 G. P. WIEDMAN, SR 3,065,680

SURFACE BUMPER Filed Sept. 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTYJ- Nov. 27, 1962 G. P. WIEDMAN, SR 3,065,680

SURFACE BUMPER Filed Sept. l0, `1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. George P. Wiedmonr.

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iibh@ Patented Nov 27, 1'362 tine 3,065,680 SURFACE BUMPER George P. Wiedman, Sr., 35 Allan St., North Tonawanda, N.Y. Filed Sept. 10, 1957, Ser. No. 683,157 2 Claims. (Cl. 94-31) This invention relates in general to protective devices and pertains more particularly to a surface bumper mechanism adapted to operate as a stop or barrier for vehicles.

A primary object of this invention is to provide improvements in protective devices of the character described wherein the improvements include provision for protecting the device against adverse weather conditions and to materially prolong the useful life of the materials used.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved protective barrier or bumper to be used with vehicles for engaging against the wheels thereof and act as a limiting stop for the same, wherein the device incorporates a metallic base plate having associated therewith an underlying protective sheathing to prevent weathering of the base plate.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved surface bumper assembly incorporating a series of elongate bumper units adapted for disposition in end-toend relationship and including means for anchoring adjacent units to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved surface bumper assembly constructed in accordance with the preceding object, wherein the means for connecting the sub-assemblies together comprises a tapered pin outstanding from one end of each of the assemblies and having a reduced neck portion and wherein the opposite end of each of the subassemblies is provided with a key hole slot whereby the pins and slots of adjacent units may be coupled together to anchor the units to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved surface bumper device including an elongate rectangular base plate adapted to lie upon a supporting surface and having disposed longitudinally and substantially medially thereof an upstanding inverted V-shaped bumper and the opposite ends of the bumper being closed by triangular plates, one having a key hole slot therein and the other having an outwardly projecting tapered pin provided with a reduced portion for reception in the key hole slot of an adjacent unit and wherein the base plate is provided with an underlying layer of corrosion resistant material, such as copper or the like, such material having its peripheral edges folded over corresponding edges of the base plate and tightly fitting thereagainst to seal the undersurface of the plate against contact with water and the like.

Still another object of this invention resides in the construction, according to the preceding object, wherein the base plate is provided with a series of apertures for the reception of anchoring pins, such apertures being provided with grommets extend-ing therethrough of corrosion resistant material, such as copper or the like, the grommets aise serving to provide additional holding means for the underlying protective material and to engage the same firmly against the undersurface of the base plate, and there being anchor pin retaining clips associated with such grommets to irrnly hold the anchoring pins in place relative to the base plate.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

HG. l is a perspective view of one of the bumper units, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate details of internal construction;

FlG. 2 is a vertical section illustrating one of the bumper units as installed and showing the manner in which the bumper serves to provide a barrier or stop for a vehicle wheel;

FiG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3 3 of FG. 2 showing details of the construction of the anchoring pin units;

FIG 4 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing end portions of two adjacent units just prior to their being coupled together;

FlG. 5 is an elevational View illustrating a series of bumper sections interengaged in operative relationship with respect to each other and with portions of the assemblies being broken away to iilustrate the coupled positions of the coupling pins or studs;

FiG. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of section line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and further illustrating the relationship of the coupling pins to the key hole slots; and

PEG. 7 is a plan View on an enlarged scale showing one of the anchoring pins.

Referring at 'this time more particularly to FIG. 1, wherein one of the bumper units is `shown and being designated therein Iby the reference character 10, the same will be seen to include a base plate 11 which is of elongated rectangular configuration and preferably of a length of several feet, the assembly being foreshortened in FIG. l by reason of a substantial portion of the center thereof being removed in this gure and the end portions moved together. The bumper proper, being designated generally by the reference character 12, will be seen to be positioned longitudinally of Ithe base plate 11 and extending from one end thereof to `the other and being disposed in the medial region of the base portion but offset toward one side thereof, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

Preferably, the bumper 12 is constructed from a length y of rectangular plate bent along its longitudinal medial line `defining the apex 13 Iand with the opposite Sides 14 `and 15 thereof defining an inverted V-shaped trough and with the longitudinal edges 16 and 17 of the portions 14 and 15 being engaged upon the upper surface of the base plate 11 and suitably secured thereto, preferably by welding, brazing or the like. The opposite ends of the tunnel formed between the bumper 12 and the base plate 11 :are closed by means of triangular end plates 1S or 19 which are abutted against the opposite ends of the bumper and afiixed lthereto as by welding. The outer faces of the end plates 18 and 19 are coplanar with the opposite end faces of the .base plate 11. One of the end plates 13 is provided with an outwardly projecting coupling pin 20, Whereas .the opposite end plate 19 is provided with a key hole slot 21.

To protect the undersurface of the base plate 11 against moisture or corrosive agent, the same is provided with an underlying layer or sheet 22 of corrosion resistant material, preferably copper sheeting or the like. This copper sheet covers the entire undersurface of the base plate 11 and is of slightly greater dimensions than the base plate so as to allow the peripheral edges 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the sheet to be wrapped over the corresponding edges of the base plate `as is shown most clearly in FIG. l. These folded-over portions of the corrosion resistant sheet are tightly pressed against the upper surface of the base plate so as to preclude the entrance of moisture between the sheet and -the undersurface of the base plate. At the overlapping portions of the peripheral edges of the sheet, such as the area indicated by the reference character 27, the portions of the sheet may be interconnected or joined as by means of solder or the like so that the sheet tends to cling lirmly to the base plate and to otherwise form a protective cover on the undersurface and periphery thereof.

The base plate is provided with a pair of openings 28 and 29 at each end thereof for the reception of anchor pins as hereinafter described and to protect the raw edges of the base plate defining these openings, grommets 30 and 31 are utilized in conjunc-tion therewith, such grommets also serving the further effect of clamping the copper sheet 22 tightly against the undersurface of the base plate.

FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of the assembly in the region of one of the anchoring pins 32 and in this figure, the supporting surface for the bumper assembly is concrete, as indicated by the reference character 33, the undersurface of Ithe sheet 22 being engaged upon the supporting surface of this material. The anchor pin 32 may be of any desired construction and in this particular case is in the form of a ribbed steel pin projecting down into the concrete supporting material 33 and firmly anchored with respect -thereto and having a discoidal head 34 and its upper end and secured thereto by weld material 35 or the like. In FIG. 3, the grommet 31 is clearly shown and the manner in which the upper and lower lips 36 and 37 thereof hold the plate 22 against the undersurface of the base plate 11 is also clearly shown. VIt will also be -seen in FIG. 3 that the grommet 31 is of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the pin 32 so as to receive the anchor locks 38 and 39. Each of these locks includes a lower ear 40 having an upturned free end 41 engaging against the plate 22, an upright portion 42 extending upwardly through the grommet 31 :and positioned between the same and the pin 32. The upper end of the portion 42 is provided with an outwardly extending portion 43 and terminates in an upturned locking tab 44 having the upper free end thereof 45 engaged over the upper surface of the portion 34 of the anchor pin, as shown, so as to securely lock the anchor pin Ito the base plate 11. Initially, each of the locking members has its locking tab portion 44 extending vertically and after the anchor pin 32 is in position, the portions 45 thereof are hammered over onto the head 34 to complete the locking action of these elements. This construction is also clearly shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 4-6 inclusive illustrate the manner in which several of the units are joined to form a continuous curb or bumper. and 19 at opposite ends of the untis are provided respectively with the coupling pins 20 and key hole apertures 21. As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the coupling pins 20 includes a tapered outer end portion 46 to aid in entering the coupling pin in the upper and larger portion 47 of its corresponding key hole slot. In the portion of the coupling pin which is immediately adjacent the end plate 18, as indicated by the reference character 48, the same is of reduced diameter to present a shoulder 49 which is adapted to engage against the inner surface of the corresponding end plate 19 and with the portion 48 of the pin being of substantially the same width in diameter as the smaller lower portion G of the key hole slot.

Therefore, in coupling two of the assemblies together, l

As previously described, the end plates 18 prior to assembly and FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating the assembled relationship of parts.

The barrier structure or surface bumper is useful in many instances. For example, the same may be utilized on parking lots and the like both as a means for delineat ing the relative position of the vehicles to be stored within the lot and as a means `for protecting pedestrian area ways from passage of vehicles thereinto.

The assemblies are characterized by their ability to withstand severe weather and corrosive conditions particulari ly in View of the fact that the undersurface of the base plates are protected by the substantially non-corrosive layer lying therebeneath and against which direct contact is made with the supporting surface of the lot or building or other installation in which the devices are made. FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle wheel 51 engaged against the bumper 12 and in operative position relative thereto. The base plate, as well as the bumper, is preferably constructed of mild steel plate or other inexpensive ferrous material and the upper surface of the base plate, as well as the outer surface of the bumper and the inner surface thereof, is preferably coated with red lead or the like to prevent excessive weathering or corrosion.

I claimt l. A surface bumper of the character described com' prising an elongate rectangular base plate having sides and a covering on its undersurface of corrosion resistant material, an elongate strip of material substantially coextensive in length with said base plate and being bent along its longitudinal medial line into inverted V-shaped configuration, the opposite side edges of said strip being engaged against the uppersurface of said base plate and rigidly affixed thereto such that the strip forms an up; standing bumperextending longitudinally of and in the central portion of said base plate, said corrosion resistant material comprising a sheet of copper being of a size and shape slightly larger than the base plate and having edges projecting beyond all sides of the base plate, thevedgesof the resistant material being bent upwardly and over the sides of the base plate and aixed to the upper surface of the base plate so as to seal the sides of the base plate from attack by detrimental elements, and means fixed to' the opposite ends of said strip for coupling adjacent units together, said means including a triangular end plate se-` cured to each end of said strip to form a fluid tight hollow V-shaped elongated compartment with eachof said end plates having an outer vertical face substantially co-j planar with corresponding end plates, one of said end plates having an outwardly projecting coupling pin affixed thereto, and the other of said end plates having a key hole slot therein, with the enlarged end of the key hole slot disposed above its reduced end, said coupling pin having an enlarged tapered outer end portion disposed in horizontal alignment with the reduced end of said key hole slot and of greater diameter than the reduced end of the key hole slot, said pin adjacent the portion thereof affixed to said end plate being of a length to extend through the key hole slot of a corresponding end plate disposed adjacent said end plate to which said pin is atxed with its tapered portion engaging the inner surface of said corresponding end plate, whereby the coupling pins and key hole slots of adjacent units may be interengaged for securely joining a number of the units together in such manner that the member may be changed as desired, and adjacent end plates of adjacent units substantially abut one another when joined together.

2. A surface bumper as recited in claim 1 wherein said copper sheet and said base plate have coinciding apertures adjacent each corner thereof and a grommet fixed in the apertures and holding said sheet against the undersurface of said base plate, an anchoring pin extending through each of said grommets and holding said base plate in position 'on a supporting surface and lock elements extending through said grommets and engaging said anchoring pins and holding lthe same in xed engagement with respect to said base plate.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morton Aug. 7, 1883 Capewell Aug. 25, 1903 Craig Apr. 23, 1907 Higgins Aug. 27, 1929 Finkeldey June 21, 1932 Transchell Aug. 15, 1933 6 Swenson June 4, 1940 H811 Sept. 16, 1941 Davis Sept. 23, 1941 Davignon June 21, 1949 Harris Oct. 13, 1953 Wiedman May 18, 1954 Allison Oct. 4, 1955 Walker Aug. 6, 1957 Boyle Ian. 7, 1958 French Dec. 9, 1958 

